With the start of winter this month, many people in North America have already begun using their fire places. For many people, this means a traditional wood fire that delivers both warmth and ambience during the cold months.

The smell of burning wood is pleasant to some people, and even though wood is a natural substance, exposure to wood smoke can be hazardous to one’s health. Workers in industries that burn wood for heat, to produce energy or for cooking could also be exposed to wood smoke on the job.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the smoke from wood burning is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles (also referred to as particle pollution, particulate matter or PM). In addition to particle pollution, wood smoke contains several harmful air pollutants, including benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Carbon monoxide is also produced during the burning of wood.

The EPA states that wood smoke can affect everyone, but children, teenagers, older adults, people with lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or people with heart diseases are the most vulnerable.

“These substances and microscopic particles can get into the eyes and respiratory system of those exposed to it, causing health concerns,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “The EPA reports that short-term exposures to particles from wood smoke can aggravate lung disease, causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase one’s susceptibility to respiratory infections. Long-term exposures have been associated with problems such as reduced lung function and the development of chronic bronchitis. Some studies also suggest that long-term fine particulate matter exposures may be linked to cancer and to harmful developmental and reproductive effects.”

EMSL Analytical, Inc. provides testing services to identify wood smoke and particulate matter pollution exposure risks, along with comprehensive smoke damage and residue testing services. They also recently sponsored an educational video about wood smoke exposure and health concerns that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/2Eo-oodwd-c.

• The Surgeon General has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to ambient smoke!

• If you smell even a subtle odor of smoke, you are being exposed to poisonous and carcinogenic chemical compounds!

• Even a brief exposure to smoke raises blood pressure, (no matter what your state of health) and can cause blood clotting, stroke, or heart attack in vulnerable people. Even children experience elevated blood pressure when exposed to smoke!

• Since smoke drastically weakens the lungs' immune system, avoiding smoke is one of the best ways to prevent colds, flu, bronchitis, or risk of an even more serious respiratory illness, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis! Does your child have the flu? Chances are they have been exposed to ambient smoke!